Common contaminants of paper and board food packaging
Common contaminants
Common contaminants of glass food packaging
Common contaminants
Common contaminants of ceramic food packaging materials
Food Packaging Materials
Food packaging protects foodstuffs, but it can also be a source of chemical food contamination. The layer that is in direct contact with the foodstuff is called “food contact material”. Various different types of food contact materials are commonly used, each with different properties.
Phthalates
Phthalates are common plasticizers used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), but migration from other types of food packaging has also been found. For some phthalates food is estimated to be the main exposure route, and food contact materials are likely a relevant source. Phthalates are legally used in food packaging, but their use is restricted in the EU.
Mixture Toxicity
Research during the last 15 years has rendered many different examples of mixture toxicity, also known as “cocktail effect”. Different chemicals, present in mixtures at individual no observable effect levels, can act in concert and affect the same endpoint, causing a measurable effect. Mixture toxicity is particularly of concern for endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).
Epigenetics
Epigenetics is a field that has recently been revived. Scientific studies from the last 10 years have shown that chemicals can induce changes to DNA that are not manifest in DNA sequence. These changes are epigenetic (meaning on the DNA) and affect gene expression. They can cause a large variety of effects, from changes in fur colour to chronic disease. Knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms is constantly evolving.
Endocrine disruptors
Hormones are special. They cause certain effects only at low doses, while at higher doses different or even opposite outcomes are observed. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can also behave like hormones by activating typical hormone pathways. They, too, can do this differentially, depending on their dose. The science around EDCs is becoming clearer.
Developmental exposures
When a new life develops, it is exquisitely sensitive to many different factors, including exposure to certain chemicals. It is scientifically well-established today that prenatal and neonatal development are sensitive times where even low doses of harmful chemical substances can cause detrimental effects for health in later life. Endocrine disruptors are of special concern, amongst other important influences.
